While these awful circumstances are hard to forget, let's focus simply on giving condolences and thanks for the service Clark provided to his country.

He died far from home, far from those he loved dearly. That is a risk that anyone who suits up for military duty accepts when going into hostile territory. Many families in the Jackson area have understood that intimately, sending off young adults to serve and, in a few cases, seeing them return in caskets.

We are often impressed by the willingness of those who enlist to serve, despite the obvious challenges they face. We have heard story after story of those who re-enlist for second, third and even fourth tours of duty.

In Clark's case, that willingness to serve began in his hometown of Addison, as a volunteer firefighter. It was clear in the last week that while Clark had moved away more than a decade ago, he had made a lasting impact on his community.

Friends still remembered him fondly. One described Clark this way:

"Just a regular guy from a small village with one traffic light made a huge impact on the world."

We couldn't put it any better. Our thanks go to Capt. Bruce Kevin Clark and all the thousands more who suit up in defense of our country.